A MOTORIST says he got a big shock when his car was hit by a stray golf ball as he drove along the Formby Bypass.

Steve Blower and his wife Chris, who live in Southport, were driving past Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa’s second nine-hole course alongside the by-pass last Sunday.

The couple say they were startled when the ball bounced off the bonnet of their Mazda 3 car, making a loud bang.

The impact has left a dent and Steve is now appealing for safety netting to be improved at the club.

Meanwhile the owners have stressed that this has never happened before - and they are investigating.

Steve, who owns Webkwik Digital Design, said: “We had just got onto the Formby Bypass going towards Liverpool from Southport when we heard a massive thwack and just out the corner of my eye I saw a golf ball bouncing off the car.

“When I dropped my wife off at her sisters in Formby I had a look and there was a dent about the same size of an egg.”

Steve regularly rides his motorbike along the bypass and said he dreads to think what would have happened if he had been on his bike that day.

He added: “On my way back to Southport I went into the golf shop to report it to them. I was told that the man I needed to speak to at the club wasn’t there, so I’ve written him a letter.”

He added that, on closer inspection, the protective netting alongside the course did not appear to be adequate.

“I drive up there quite a lot on my motorbike and if it happened when I was on that it would have been mayhem – or what about if it had happened to someone in a convertible car.”

A spokesman for Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa said: “Whilst this is an isolated incident Formby Hall are currently investigating the event and are in contact with all concerned parties.”